Feb. 21, 2010

Final Stats

MOBILE, Ala. - The Nicholls State University softball team used a six-run fourth to take a commanding lead over Belmont, and went on to win 9-1 to close out the USA Invitational with a victory on Sunday at Jaguar Field.

Belmont (0-3) broke a scoreless affair in the top of the fourth, scoring a run to take a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom half. Nicholls (3-1) then had an offensive explosion in the bottom frame, scoring six runs on three hits and two errors.

The first of the runs came via a sophomore Mandy Granger double that brought home senior Lyndsay Mesh and sophomore Lauren Martinez. After the Granger double and a junior Tori Lay walk, true freshman Lauren Batiz pinch hit for true freshman Katie Holmes, and the gamble paid off with Batiz hitting a bomb over the left field fence.

It was Batiz's first homerun of her collegiate career, and the Colonels fifth as a team on the season. The Colonels closed out the inning with a RBI single by Natalie Travasos that scored sophomore Megan Gaspard.

After the inning, both teams shot blanks in the fifth, sending the game into the sixth with the Colonels holding steady a 6-1 lead. Belmont failed to score in the top of the sixth, but Nicholls wasn't so bashful in its half, tacking on three runs, two via bases loaded walks.

Junior Carlee Winkelmann got the victory in the circle, giving up only one run on four hits and fanning four in the process. Leading the Colonels at the plate was Granger with a 2-for-3 showing with three RBI, while Batiz was credited with the game's only homerun, going 1-for-1 with three RBI. Gasprad also had two stolen bases in the win.

Nicholls will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel Alcorn State on Tuesday for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.

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